Favara Castle

Favara Castle, locally known as Castello di Favara or Castello dei Chiaramonte, lies in the town of the same name, in the Agrigento province on the island of Sicily in Italy.

Favara Castle was built in the 13th century but exactly when and by who is not known. Some think it was built in 1239 by Frederick II, Duke of Swabia and Holy Roman Emperor as a hunting lodge because of its architectural style. Others think it was built around 1270, when it was first mentioned, by members of the Chiaramonte family.

In the beginning of the 14th century the castle was still possessed by the Chiaramonte family. In 1392 Manfredi Chiaramonte was executed for rebelling against the Crown and the castle was sold by Martin I, King of Sicily, to Raimondo Moncada Peralta. In 1398, he also was accused of treason, convicted and stripped of all his property and the castle went to Emilio Perapertusa. His successors restored the castle in 1488.

After several other changes in ownership Favara Castle went to the Aragonese Pignatelli family in 1695. They held on to the castle until the abolition of feudalism in 1829. Then the castle was sold to the Cafiso family who used it as a storage building until the first half of the 20th century.

In 1964 the interior of Favara Castle was severely damaged when works started to turn it into the seat of the municipal council. Luckily, works were stopped a year later and in 1999 these damages were repaired during a restoration.

Favara Castle is more palace than a castle, although it was originally surrounded by a crenelated wall with towers at the corners.

A nice castle, especially its interior.

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